Renault Samsung Motors Co., the South Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA, said Friday it has introduced its mid-size passenger vehicle, the SM5, to the European market.The vehicle, known as the Latitude in overseas markets, is currently sold in some 30 countries throughout the world.“Through these SM5 exports, Renault Samsung Motors will fulfill its role as the Asian hub of the Renault-Nis

Money remittances to foreign countries, including foreign workers’ income transfers, jumped last year to nearly $10 billion (11.2 trillion won) amid the economic recovery, central bank data showed Friday.Total money flowing to foreign countries reached $9.97 billion last year, up 31 percent from the previous year, according to the Bank of Korea.Among total remittances, payment of income to foreign

CHICAGO (AP) ― Illinois’ highest court put President Barack Obama’s former White House chief of staff back in the race for Chicago mayor Thursday, three days after a lower court threw the name off the ballot because he had not lived in the city for a full year.The state Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Rahm Emanuel’s favor, saying an appeals court decision that said the candidate needed to be ph

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Every year around now, tens of thousands of DVDs of movies still playing in theaters are sent by Hollywood studios to Oscar, Golden Globe and other awards voters.Every year, some of these discs are copied, and the movies end up being shared online, where they can cut into theater-ticket and DVD sales.This time, studios are taking a new approach to prevent this kind of piracy, an

A riot police squad in Wonju, Gangwon Province, was disbanded on Friday after its seniors were found to have physically and emotionally abused young conscripts.The Gangwon Regional Police Agency said it broke up the 90-member unit, relocating 59 police officers to other areas. The other 31 members are victims of the abuse, and they will be transferred out after questioning, the agency said. The de

The Justice Ministry on Friday appointed Han Sang-dae, chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, to head the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in a reshuffle that affected six senior prosecutor posts.Park Yong-seok, chief of the Legal Research and Training Institute, was appointed as the vice chief of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in the reshuffle, which officials said is aimed at re

Some 4,000 adults will sit a trial version of a state-run English test Saturday, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Friday. The National English Ability Test, or NEAT, is currently under development to be introduced as early as 2012. The online test is to be divided into three different levels ― one adult level to substitute TOEIC and TOEFL, and two student levels to substitute

North Korea proposed parliamentary talks with the South to discuss ways to ease tension on the peninsula, drawing varied reactions from political parties here.“What is essential in the inter-Korean dialogue is dialogue between the authorities with real power and responsibility,” the North’s Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland said in an English-languag

With as many as six seats up for grabs, the by-elections in April are expected to have a major impact on the political climate ahead of the parliamentary and presidential elections next year.Being this year’s only national-level elections, the votes could buck up or discourage the Lee Myung-bak administration as it nears its end.Gangwon Province will have to pick a new governor as Lee Kwang-jae wa

Two of the nation’s three major financial groups are to choose their next chairmen in about a month.Woori Financial Group’s incumbent chairman Lee Pal-seung will see his term end in March and Shinhan Financial Group currently maintains an interim chairman system due to the recent internal feud among executives.Woori Financial launched a committee Friday, which will recommend the list of several ca

Kia Motors Corp. saw its sales and profits reach an all-time high in 2010, fueled by massive improvements in sales seen both at home and abroad.The carmaker Friday reported yearly sales of 23.26 trillion won ($20.88 billion) and operating profit of 1.68 trillion won, up respectively 26.3 percent and 46.8 percent from a year earlier.Over the corresponding period, the company’s net profits jumped 55

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone carrier, has agreed to buy cloud-provider Terremark Worldwide Inc. for $1.4 billion as it expands services that allow corporate customers store data and programs offsite. The cash deal, which values Terremark at $19 a share, represents a 35 percent premium over the company’s closing share price. Verizon plans to complete its offer later th